A treatise of the necessity of humane learning for a Gospel-preacher shewing the use of I. Languages, II. Rhetoric, III. Logic, IV. Natural philosophy, V. Moral philosophy, VI. History, VII. Chronology, VIII. Arithmetic, IX. Geometry, X. Astronomy, XI. Geography, and the benefits of learning in all ages : also this question is determined, whether grace be essential to a minister of the Gospel? / by Edward Reyner ...

SECT. II. That the Prophets, Christ, and his Apostles, were learned.

THe Prophets in the Old Testa∣ment, * 1.1 Christ and his Apostles in the New, had not Humane Learning, —Ergo there is no need of it for the Mini∣sters of the Gospel? They carried on their Ministery without the knowledge of Arts and Tongues, may not Ministers do so now?

Answer in five Propositions.

The first Proposition. * 1.2 The Prophets, and Christ and his Apostles were learned, and had all the learning and Tongues that we now have, and these (Gifts) are the same in them and in us, in the names, sub∣stance, and proper use of them, but other∣wise acquired then ours are. The maner of obtaining them is double, scil.

• 1. By Infusion.
• Or,
• 2. By Education.

I. By Infusion or inspiration from the Spirit of God, immediately and extraordi∣narily, without the help of Schools or study.

Thus the Prophets and Apostles were * 1.3

plentifully furnished with all gifts of know∣ledge and abilities.

1. Of Learning (to wit the Arts and Languages) needful to carry on the work of Prophecy in the Old Testament, and of preaching the Gospel, of planting and wa∣tering Churches in the New.

2. With the knowledge of God and his will, of Christ and the mysteries of the Gospel, and the things pertaining to the kingdom of heaven. This came to the Prophets and Apostles from God by re∣velation.

Jesus Christ was filled with all the trea∣sures of wisdom and knowledge both hu∣mane and divine, Col. 2.3. by the spirit which he received above measure, Joh. 13.34. wherewith he was anointed above and for his fellows. The spirit of wisdom and counsel, &c. that made him quick of un∣derstanding, Isa. 11.2, 3. Hence it is, that, when he was a child, he disputed a∣mong the Doctors and learned men in the Temple, Luke 2.46. among whom he was found, * 1.4 when his parents had sought him sorrowing. He grew in wisdom and knowledge, so as, * 1.5 according tothe pro∣portion of his age, the gifts of the Spirit were augmented in him. He being greater then Solomon, could not come short of

Solomon's wisdom in any thing, Matth. 12.42.

II. The manner of obtaining learning is by Education, in Schools and Universi∣ties, by study and industry, by the reading of books, and teachings of men, &c.

This is the ordinary means God hath appointed to serve his providence in, for attainment of learning and knowledge, both humane, scil. of Arts and Tongues, and divine, to wit, of God and Christ, of Law and Gospel, &c.

The same knowledge of the doctrine of Moses and the Prophets, and of the myste∣ries of salvation, and of speaking with Tongues (in the substance and nature of the gift) which came to Paul by immedi∣ate Revelation from God, Gal. 1.11, 12. Eph. 3.2, 3. and to others of the holy men of God, 2 Pet. 1.21. Timothy acqui∣red by Paul's teaching, 2 Tim. 3.10, 14. and chap. 2. ver. 2. and by his parents education of him in the knowledge of the holy Scriptures from a child, 2 Tim. 3.15. and by study and industry, 1 Tim. 4.15, 16.

Thus the Prophets and Apostles had learning and knowledge both divine and humane, infused and inspired into them by the Spirit, immediately, supernaturally, extraordinarily, and miraculously in respect

of the maner, and (of the measure) of their obtaining them, which is now ceased, and cannot be expected without tempting of God.

We must seek to acquire all these from God, by pains and diligence, in the use of the means God hath appointed for that purpose. Paul exhorts Timothy thereun∣to, to study and meditate, and to give himself wholly to these things, that his profiting may appear in all things, or to all men, and to stir up the gift that is in him, for fitting himself more to the work of the Ministery, 1 Tim. 4.13, 14, 15.

Obj. The Council perceiving that Peter and John were 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, unlearned men were amazed, Acts 4.13. Ergo, the Apo∣stles had no humane learning?

Ans. They counted the Apostles un∣learned, because they, being fishermen, were not trained up in learning, nor educated in Schools, as the Pharisees were; therefore they wondred that men unlearned were so well-skill'd in the doctrine of Moses and the Prophets; and could speak so boldly of the mysteries of the Gospel.

They wondered at Christ's learning, see∣ing he was a Carpenter's son, (as then re∣puted) and never learn'd at School, Matth. 13.55, 56. John 7.15. How knoweth

this man letters having never learned?

The second Proposition. Though many of the Prophets were call'd, or taken from secular imployments, as Elisha from the plow, King. 19.19, 20. Zechariah from husbandry, chap. 13.5. Amos from the herd, Amos 1.1. and 7.14. and divers of the Apostles from their nets, ships, and fishing, as Peter, Andrew, James and John, Mar. 1.16, to 21. and Matthew from the Custom-house where he sate, chap. 9.9.

Yet others of them were educated in hu∣mane learning, * 1.6 as Moses was in all the learn∣ing of the Egyptians, by the care of Pha∣raoh's daughter; * 1.7 and Daniel in the learn∣ing and Tongue of the Chaldeans, by Nebu∣chadnezzar's command.

Paul was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, Acts 22.3. Festus told him of his much learning.

The third Proposition. Christ and his Apostles made good use of Tongues, Arts and Sciences, for opening the Scriptures, and for explaning, applying, and pressing the Doctrines contained therein, and what they delivered to their hearers.

Of Tongues, in citing and translating Scriptures out of Hebrew in the Old Testa∣ment into Greek in the New, and ex∣pounding them; and in speaking to men

of several Nations in their own Language, Acts 2.4, 5, 6. 1 Cor. 14.18.

Of Arts, as Rhetoric, Logic, Philoso∣phy, as hath been declared before.—Their use of learning shews they had learning.

The fourth Proposition. The Prophets and Apostles made use of books, of the holy Scriptures chiefly, and also of humane Authors to read them.

Mr. Weemse saith, * 1.8 that the Prophets and the Apostles (to wit, some of them) learned their humane Arts and Sciences from men, as Moses did from the Egypti∣ans, Daniel from the Chaldeans, Paul from Gamaliel; but, as they were Prophets and Apostles, they had their divine know∣ledge immediately from God, yet they were to retain and keep it by reading: * 1.9as the fire that came from Heaven upon the Altar was miraculous; yet when it was once kindled they kept it in with wood, as we do our fires. Yea, they daily increa∣sed in knowledge by reading of books, especially the holy Scriptures. Daniel, though a great Prophet, did exercise him∣self much in reading the books of the Pro∣phets, chap. 9.2. I Daniel understood by books the number of the years.

Paul, a great Apostle, yet made use of Books: * 1.10 he writ to Timothy to bring him

the Books he left at Troas, * 1.11 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Cal∣vin observes (upon that place) now that Paul, being aged, was to prepare himself for death, yet he desists not from reading Books. Here is commended (saith he) to all the godly diligent reading of Books, by which they may profit. Hence the Fury of those Fanatic persons is refel'd, who, contemning Books, and condemning all reading, boast of their own Enthusiasms onely. Paul commends reading to Timo∣thy, 1 Tim. 4.13.

It's certain Paul read humane, yea Hea∣then Authors, as the Greek Poets; for he alledgeth Sayings out of them: As of

Menander, to convince the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 15.33. Evil words corrupt good maners] whereby he refutes the Verse of another Poet, to wit, Anacreon, as some think, —Let us eat, and drink, for to mor∣row we shall die, vers. 32.

Of Epimenides to reprehend the Creti∣ans, Titus 1.12.

Of Aratus to shame the Athenians, Acts 17.28. when he disputed against the Philosophers there.

Scultetus collects out of 2 Tim. 1.6. that Paul was read in Plato's Writings, for he useth some of his words, as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which is verbum Platonicum. Peter quotes

a common Proverb, or rather two, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. * 1.12 The Dog is turned to his vomit, and the Sow to her wal∣lowing in the mire.

The fifth Proposition. Some of them made use, not onely of Books, for further information of their Minds, but of their Notes, or Writings, for the help of their Memories; as Paul did of the Parchments, * 1.13 which he left at Troas, and sent for. The Cloak] whereby he was covered from showers, and kept warm. * 1.14 But some think the word signifieth Scriniolum, or Theca Libraria, a Desk, or Coffer, wherein Paul laid his Books, or Writings. Calvin in∣clines to this sense,—The Cloak I left with Carpus bring with thee when thou comest, and the Books, but especially the Parchments. What these Parchments were is difficult to determine. Some conceive them to be a Scheme, or draught and model of Divine Truths methodically digested, which Paul had prepared and accommodated to his own use, or transfer'd to the use of others, as Apollo, or Timothy, or Titus, 1 Cor. 4.6. Hence one infers,

If Paul had been al∣ways supplied with miraculous assistance, what needed he to have committed any thing to writing for his own use? or to have been so solicitous for his Parch∣ments?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Obj. 2.
• * 1.2

  Mr. Rutherford.
• * 1.3

  Act. 2.4.
• * 1.4

  Vers. 48.
• * 1.5

  Vers. 40, 52
• * 1.6

  Acts 7.22.
• * 1.7

  Dan. 1.4.
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, Divine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pag. 66.
• * 1.9

  S••m.
• * 1.10

  2 Tim. 4.13.
• * 1.11

  See Piscator in 2 Tim. 4.13. in his Obse. v.
• * 1.12

  2 Pet. 2.22.
• * 1.13

  2 Tim. 4.13.
• * 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.